Barrel-washing machine.



C. EVAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATWN FILED SEPT-23.19l4.

1,244,391. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

awmzwtoz C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT-23,1914.

1,244,391. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l jbhwomo C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT-23.1914.

1,244,391. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3. I

UMTED %TATE% @FFKQE..-

CHARLESB, VAN HORN, 0FPHILADELPHIA,-PENNSYLVANIA.

BARREL-WASHING IEACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Got. 23,1917.

Original application filed July 24. 1913, Serial No. 780,575. Divided. and this application filed September 23, 1914. Serial No. 863,171.

To all/whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. VAN Honk, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Barrelashing ltfachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for washing barrels, kegs and similar containers, and particularly beer kegs, and the present application. is a division of my prior application filed July 24%, 1913, Sr. No. 780,975, the object of the invention being to provide an improved nozzle or injector for automatically supplying water to theinterior of a keg or barrel for the purpose of internally rinsing or washing the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an injector or nozzle which will be automatically actuated in the course of travel and rotation of the barrel to perform its prescribed functions of periodically letting on and cutting off the flow of water and locking and releasing the barrel.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a barrel washing machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section through the receiving end of the machine, showing the mechanism in one position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the receiving end of the machine.

Fig. 4c is a similar view showing the mechanism in a difierent position.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the nozzle detached on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same partly in section.

In the present illustration, I have shown only so much of the mechanism of the machine as is necessary to illustrate the con-,

struction and operation of the improved nozzle or injector, which is particularly designed for use in conjunction with the type of barrel or keg washing machine shown in my prior application'No. 780,975 hereinbefore referred to.

In the accompanying drawings, 1, 1,.represents the side frames which serve as supporting means for the various parts of the structure, and 5 is a main driving shaft adapted for communicating motion to the feeding and scrubbing mechanisms of the machine, the driving devices including two trains of gear pinions journaled upon the respective side frames 1, 1, and including pinions 2%, 2%, 28 and 28. adapted to perform the functions hereinafter described. Disposed within the side frames" is a sliding barrel carrier 4.0 which, in, addition to its sliding movement, has a lifting movement imparted thereto so that barrels or kegs p-ositioned on the same may be shifted from one point to another through the machine to permit the desired cleansingoperations thereon. This barrel carrier rests upon rollers ll carried at the ends of arms 42 on rock shafts 48 and 4.4.; said rock shafts being connected together so that the movement imparted to one will be transmitted to the other. l vhen in the raised position, the carrier is moved foiwvardly by an arm or bar 46 having a roller 47 at one end engaging an end of said carrier; said arm having rack teeth on its underside whereby it may be moved back and forth by gear wheel 4L8 meshing there-. with. v

Pivoted at 50 to the rear end of the. sliding carrier 40, is a barrel lifting device comprising a lever-like structureol adapted to receive a barrel from a suitable runway, (not shown), and movement being imparted to this lever-like structure by suitable means, the barrel or keg upon the same will be ele-, vated and deposited upon a seat consisting of a plurality of suitable rolls 52 and 53, carried by spindles or shafts having the pinions 2-4, 24*. 28 and 28, of the gearing before referred to; said rolls being driven by such gearing. This lever-like structure is pivots ally connected to the sliding barrel carrier so as to be raised with it, and the ends of this lever-like structure are provided with rollers 54: for engagement with a fixed cam guide 55 having an inclined surface 56 so that as the carrier is moved forward the lever structure is elevated into proper position to deliver a keg or barrel to said first set of rolls and 58.

As is well known, all kegs are provided with bung-holes disposed in one of the staves of the same and generally disposedat the center thereof. Arranged to enter the bung-hole of a keg when mounted on the rolls 52 and 53, l have provided a nozzle (i0 for delivering hot water. This nozzle is pivotally mounted at 61 to the barrel carrier 40, and provided with a spring 62 so that it may be automatically raised into the bung-hole of a barrel when the latter comes into registry therewith. During the rotation of the keg or barrel prior to the time the bung-hole comes into; registry therewith, such nozzle contacts with the keg or barrel, and while in this position the flow of hot water is cut ofi'. As soon as the nozzle enters the barrel, however, the latter stops rotatin being held by the nozzle which is automatically lifted into the barrel by the action of the spring 62 and by such rise effects the operation of a valve 63, permitting the flow of hot water into said keg or barrel. To accomplish this result, the valve-stem 64: is in engagement with one end of a bell-crank lever 65, the opposite end of said lever having a roller 66 which contacts with the barrel and when the nozzle enters the bung-hole the movement is transmitted to the valve stem to open the valve.

The mechanism controlling the operation of the apparatus is so timed that the barrel remains in this position, receiving a supply of hot water for a predetermined length of time, which of course, may differ to take care of difiering conditions. This water may be supplied from any suitable source, a hose 67 being suitably connected to the nozzle. In addition hot water is sprayed upon the keg or barrel during the time it is rotating upon the rolls 52 and 53; while it is being internally rinsed, and while it is passing from the first to the second position for externally washing. This water is discharged from a pipe 68 connected by means of a hose 69 with a suitable source of supply.

When the end of this part of the washing treatment is reached, the barrel is automatically lifted by the sliding carrier and de livered to a second position adjacent a se ries of brushes 71 for external scrubbing; the seat for the barrel in this position being formed by driven rollers 72 which are of such a character as to positively rotate the barrel. in contact with said brushes so that it will be scrubbed during the rotation period. These brushes, which have been raised out of the way with the elevation of the sliding carrier, lower automatically with the carrier into contact with the barrel when it reaches the brushing position simultaneously with the lowering of the carrier. The barrel may occupy this position for a predetermined length of time.

After the barrel has been scrubbed externally, it is moved by the carrier to a third position for an internal application of water; a discharge nozzle therefor being mounted in a fixed position but carried by a swinging support in substantially the same manner as the nozzle for the hot water, and the barrel being centered over the same, it is rotated by means of suitable rolls 101 until the bung-hole registers with said nozzle, and when the latter enters said opening, the valve being simultaneously opened in the manner before described, a charge of water, preferably cold, will pass into the barrel. From this position, the barrel may be finally transferred by the sliding carrier, a

and then removed on a suitable run-way (not shown), which receives it when the said sliding carrier is lowered and retracted for engagement with other barrels.

It will be understood, of course, that after the machine is in operation four ba rels are being taken care of simultaneously constantly; that is to say, onebarrel' is being washed internally and externally with the hot water; the second barrel is being externally scrubbed, while the third barrel is be ing rinsed internally with water and the fourth is being elevated to take the place of the first-mentioned barrel.

All the barrels are mounted to rotate in suit-able seats comprising rollers, the rollers disposed at the scrubbing point are somewhat larger so that barrels or kegs of the various sizes may be accommodated thereby; insuring support of the small kegs and barrels.

The sliding carrier has a continuous movement; first up, then forward, then down, then rearward between the several sets of rollers, and when the machine is in complete operation, it is moving the four kegs or barrels at one time.

The swinging support comprising a piping pivotally mounted at 61 and carrying the nozzle 66, has a roller disposed below the pivotal point, which roller is in position to engage a stop 111 suitably fixed to the element 55, such engagement shifting the position of said swinging support so that the nozzle may be removed from the bunghole and occurring when the sliding carrier has moved forward to shift the positions of the kegsor barrels. When the sliding carrier has moved back, after the barrel has been deposited upon the second set of driving and supportin rolls, the roller 110 is released from contact with the stop 111 and the nozzle will be returned to its normal position by the spring 62 ready to enter the bung-hole of the next keg or barrel. The movement of the nozzle affected by the action of the stop 111 does not affect the flow of water through the valve.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows The barrel carrier receives the barrels from a suit-able conveyer which delivers them to the pivotally mounted lifting skid 51 at the receiving end; said skid being in the lowered position when the carrier is in the lowered position. Prior to the forward movement of the carrier, the latter is raised and with it the skid; then it is moved for ward, the skidturning during such move= ment and when the carrier reaches the limit of its forward movement the skid has completed its liftingmovement and the barrel carried thereby is'directly over the first set of rolls 52 and 53. The carrieris now lowered; the barrels dropping onto said rolls, and after the carrier is lowered it is moved back and when fully retracted the skid is in the lowered position ready to receive another barrel. The barrel on the rolls 52 and 53 is turned by them until the bung hole is brought into registry with the nozzle delivering hot water (and in some instances steam); said nozzle being so positioned as to readily enter said bung-hole asthe barrel turns. .Vhen the nozzle enters the bunghole, it stops the rotation of the barrel. A fresh barrel is now delivered to the skid, and the same operation. is repeated; the carrier in rising picking up the barrel from the rolls and 53 and when it is moved to the limit of its forward movement said barrel has been carried to its position beneath the brushes. In like manner successive bar rels are moved forward step-by-step; first to the nozzle then to the brushes; then to the cold water nozzle, and finally to a position where they may be discharged from the carrier.

I claim 1. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of barrel supporting and rotating means, a water supply nozzle movably mounted for immediate contact with the barrel, resilient means operative-1y connected with the nozzle to automatically project the same into a registering bung-hole, an automatic carrier operable to shift the barrel from its internal washing position, and means to retract the nozzle from the barrel during such shiftin 2. In a barrel washing machine, rotatable rolls for rotating the barrel, a pivoted,

vertically swinging, spring projected finding nozzle adapted to be normally held projected by its projecting spring and to be depressed and held depressed by contact with the barrel to engage the bung-hole in the barrel upon coming into registry therewith and locking the barrel against rotation, a valve controlling the flow of fluid through the nozzle, means operable automatically by contact with the barrel when the nozzle engages the bung hole to open the valve for the flow of fluid through said nozzle, said means including an arm connected with the valve, a carrier automatically operative to shift the barrel from its internal washing position, and means to retract the nozzle from the barrel during such shifting.

3. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of barrel supporting and rotating means, a nozzle movably mounted for an automatic finding action, a valve control ling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, an automatically movable carrieroperable to shift the barrel from its internal washing position, means to retract the nozzle from the barrel during such shifting, and valve operating mechanism connected with the nozzle automatically operable from the finding and retracting actions for controlling the flow of liquid through the nozzle.

4:. In a barrel washing machine, a slid able carrier, rotatable rolls for supporting and rotating the barrel, a pivoted, vert1 cally swinging nozz e arranged to automatically engage the barrel and to be depressed and held depressed by contact therewith, means for yieldingly supportin and automatically lifting the nozzle into engagement with the bung-hole when the latter comes into registry therewith as the barrel is rotated, whereby the nozzle will enter the bung-hole and operate to lock the barrel against further rotation, an automatically opening and closing valve controlling the flow of fluid through the nozzle, and normally held closed against the flow of fluid, means actuated by direct contact with the barrel when the nozzle engages the bunghole to open the valve, said carrier operating to shift the barrel from its internal washing position, and means to retract the nozzle from the barrel during such shifting.

5. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a barrel conveyer, a nozzle movably mounted thereon, means for support ing and rotating the barrel in contact with said nozzle for an automaticbung-hole finding action, means to retract the nozzle from the barrel during movement of the conveyer, and valve mechanism automatically operable upon the finding and with drawing actions to control the flow of fluid through the nozzle.

6. A barrel washing machine comprising a pivoted, vertically swinging nozzle adapted for engagement with a barrel, means for supporting and rotating the barrel above said nozzle, means acting upon the nozzle for normally holding it elevated, said nozzle being arranged for contact with the barrel so as to be depressed thereby to set such elevating means into action and to automatically project the nozzle into the bunghole when the latter comes into registry therewith, a valve controlling the supply of water to the nozzle, a valve actuating device supported by and movable with the nozzle and adapted to be automatically operated by contact with the barrel when the nozzle is projected into the bung-hole to open said valve, means for normally maintaining the valve actuating device in a valve closing position, and means operating to shift the g, nae-gear barrel and the nozzle a predetermined distance whereupon the nozzle is automatically withdrawn from engagement and registry with the barrel.

7. In a barrel washing machine, a barrel conveyor having vertical and longitudinal barrel shifting movements, a water supply nozzle Jive-tally mounted to swing vertically upon said conveyer, means for supporting and rotating a barrel above the nozzle, means for normally holding the nozzle elevated, and permitting depression of said nozzle by the barrel in the rotation of the latter, said means acting to project the nozzle into the bunghole in the barrel when said bunghole comes into registry therewith, a valve controlling the supply of fluid the nozzle, a valve operating device supported by the nozzle and controlled by the projection and retraction of the nozzle to open and close the valve, and means operative in the forward and backward movements of the conveyer for tilting the nozzle to retracted position and releasing it for subsequent action.

8. In a barrel washing machine, the com bination of a barrel conveyer, a pivotally mounted, vertically swinging nozzle carried thereby, rotating rolls for supporting and rotating the barrel above the nozzle, a spring for swinging the nozzle upwardly into engagement with the barrel and adapted to project the nozzle into the bung-hole when the latter comes into registry there with, said nozzle being depressible by the barrel through the yielding action of the spring to permit the nozzle to ride yield ingly into contact with the barrel for the finding action, a water supply valve, a spring for closing said valve, a member movable to open said valve, and a spring for normally maintaining the valve in a closed position, and said member in operative position.

9. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a barrel conveyor, a swinging nozzle carried thereby, a valve carried by said nozzle, a valve stem, a fixed stop in the path of said oonveyer for moving said swinging nozzle from the bung-hole of a barrel, and a movable lever operable by the barrel to transmit valve opening motion to said valve stem. 7

10. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a barrel conveyor, a swinging nozzle carried thereby, means for normally holding said nozzle elevated and permitdepression thereof, means arranged in the path of movement of the conveyor for swinging the nozzle downwardly and witl1- drawing it from engagement with the bunghole of the barrel, an automatically closing valve g verning the flow of fluid through the nozzle, and a lever mechanism for actuating said valve and operable by contact with the barrel upon the projection of the nozzle into the bunghole.

11. in a barrel washing machine, th com bination of barrel supporting and rotating means, a plurality of nozzles each movably mounted for an automatic finding action, a valve to control the flow of liquid through each of the nozzles, an automatically movable carrier operating to shift the barrels from their washing positions and operable to cause a retraction of the nozzles from within the barrel, and valve operating mechanism connected with the nozzle auto matically operable upon the finding and retraction actions for controlling the flow of liquid through said barrel and nozzle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. VAN HORN.

Witnesses:

HELEN G. DALEY, NORMAN J. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, It t, 

